Poland sends new batch of modernized T-72 tanks to Ukraine amid continued fighting.

As reported by Artur Micek on March 1, 2025, Poland has delivered a new batch of modernized T-72 tanks to Ukraine as part of its 46th military aid package, announced on February 24, 2025. This marks the first such package since the summer of 2024. The number of tanks transferred remains undisclosed, but reports suggest it could be around 60 units, with the possibility that the total may be higher or lower than estimated. These tanks have already reached the front lines, with sources indicating that the quantity should compensate for at least two months of Ukrainian T-72 losses.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Since 2022, Poland has supplied over 280 T-72M and T-72M1 tanks to Ukraine, and as of 2024, the country retained approximately 111 T-72M1/T-72M1R tanks and about 172 PT-91 Twardy. (Picture source: 18. Dywizja Zmechanizowana)

Since 2022, Poland has supplied over 280 T-72M and T-72M1 tanks to Ukraine, while the Czech Republic has donated at least 194 T-72 tanks, including both older T-72M1s and modernized T-72 Avenger models. Additional T-72s were acquired from Bulgaria and delivered by the Czech Republic. Furthermore, other European nations, including the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States, have financed or facilitated the refurbishment and delivery of T-72 variants, bringing the total above 540 units.

As of 2024, Poland retained approximately 111 T-72M1/T-72M1R tanks and about 172 PT-91 tanks. Following the latest delivery, Poland’s remaining inventory has decreased, but exact numbers have not been officially disclosed. The Polish government has not confirmed whether it will continue transferring additional T-72s, but its ongoing acquisition of M1 Abrams and K2 Black Panther tanks has led to a gradual reduction in older Soviet-designed tanks. There are also discussions about possibly decommissioning some Leopard 2 tanks earlier than planned to accommodate more K2 units.

The T-72 remains a significant part of Ukraine’s armored forces. These tanks are used in both defensive and offensive operations and have been modified with additional armor, including Kontakt-1 and Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armor. Ukraine operates a mixed fleet of Soviet-era and Western-supplied tanks, integrating the T-72 with Leopard 2, Challenger 2, and M1 Abrams tanks. The availability of spare parts and established logistics for the T-72 make it a practical platform despite the increasing presence of more modern Western designs.

The T-72 was developed in the late 1960s by Uralvagonzavod in Nizhny Tagil as a more cost-effective alternative to the T-64. It entered service in 1973 and became one of the most widely produced tanks, with over 25,000 units built. The T-72 was exported to multiple countries, including Warsaw Pact members, Middle Eastern nations, and various other operators worldwide. It features a 125 mm 2A46 smoothbore gun, an autoloader system, and composite armor. Over time, its design has been modified to improve firepower, protection, and mobility.

Poland acquired the T-72 through a licensing agreement and began production at the Bumar-Łabędy plant in Gliwice in 1982. The Polish variants included the T-72M and T-72M1, which incorporated modifications based on the Soviet T-72A. By 2005, Poland operated 597 T-72 tanks. In 2018, the number had decreased to 257, leading to a decision to return 127 units to service. In 2019, the Polish Ministry of National Defense signed a contract for the overhaul and modernization of 230 T-72 tanks by 2025, with an option for an additional 88. Following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Poland transferred over 310 T-72M, T-72M1, and PT-91 tanks.

Poland has developed several modifications of the T-72. The T-72M1D served as a command variant, while the T-72M1Z was upgraded to the PT-91 standard. The PT-91, developed between the late 1980s and early 1990s, introduced an upgraded fire-control system, improved armor, and a more powerful engine. Another modernization effort resulted in the T-72M1R, which included a KLW-1 thermal imaging sight, passive night vision devices, a digital communication system, and additional survivability enhancements. The modernization program, initiated in 2019, aimed to upgrade 230 tanks by 2025, with at least 89 units completed by the end of 2021.